24/02/2010  Happy Valley  Race 2

As the start was effected, POWER AND GOLD, which was leaning against the inside gate of its stall, lifted its front feet off the ground and was slow to begin. PINOT NOIR was steadied on jumping when crowded for room between CLASSIC NAVIGATOR and COOL CAT which shifted out. In the early stages, PINOT NOIR, despite the efforts of its rider, hung in badly and near the 1000 Metres shifted in and crowded POWER AND GOLD which became unbalanced. PINOT NOIR continued to race greenly and near the 750 Metres got its head up and proved difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of K-JACK. JUST CHILL, which was following PINOT NOIR, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. For some distance after this, PINOT NOIR hung in badly which resulted in DARPANA being inconvenienced. Making the first turn passing the 600 Metres, PINOT NOIR again got its head up and shifted ground, resulting in DARPANA and JUST CHILL, which were following, being checked. In the circumstances, the racing manners of PINOT NOIR, were considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, PINOT NOIR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial around a bend. When questioned regarding his riding of KIMBER FORTUNE, H W Lai advised that he had been instructed to ride the horse in a midfield position with cover if possible from a gate towards the outside. He said although KIMBER FORTUNE began very well, he restrained his mount in the early stages in an endeavour to ride it as instructed. He said he felt that if he had taken advantage of the manner in which KIMBER FORTUNE began and ridden the horse to be in a forward position, this would be contrary to his instructions and may have resulted in the horse travelling wide as there were a number of faster horses drawn to his inside. He said after restraining his mount in the early stages, he was unable to obtain a midfield position and for this reason he decided to continue to steady KIMBER FORTUNE and obtained a position behind MAGIC TURBO with cover at the rear of the field. Trainer K W Lui advised the Stewards that due to KIMBER FORTUNE`s wide barrier draw and the anticipated good pace of the race, he instructed H W Lai to obtain a midfield position. He said although KIMBER FORTUNE had gone forward in its recent races, he believed that there was a reasonable chance that KIMBER FORTUNE would be left racing wide and without cover were it to be ridden in a forward position due to the pace of the race. He stated that it was his opinion that after KIMBER FORTUNE began as well as it did that H W Lai had erred in restraining his mount in the early stages in an endeavour to ride the horse in a midfield position. He said because of this KIMBER FORTUNE had raced further back in the field than he had expected. H W Lai was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, his riding in the early stages of KIMBER FORTUNE lacked initiative and that, whilst he is required to ride to instructions wherever possible, he would be expected to adapt better than he did on this occasion to the circumstances of the race. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of JUST CHILL, Apprentice M L Yeung said that the horse got back in the field tonight as it had done at its most recent start when successful. He said JUST CHILL travelled satisfactorily in the run although the horse encountered interference for some distance along the Back Straight when close to the heels of PINOT NOIR. He said in the Straight JUST CHILL was one-paced and did not accelerate as it had done at its previous start. Mr B K Ng, trainer of JUST CHILL, advised the Stewards that he was not able to offer any reasons for the horse`s poor performance tonight other than it was unable to accelerate with the increase in weight from its last start. He stated that he would consult with the owners before deciding on JUST CHILL`s future programme. A veterinary inspection of JUST CHILL after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CALIFORNIA OFFICER including an endoscopic examination after the race confirmed the horse to be a “roarer”. JUST CHILL, KARBRIDGE and FUN were sent for sampling.